Modular work system with narrow wardrobe

ABSTRACT

A modular work system includes a tall narrow wardrobe attached at an inner side wall to a pedestal. The pedestal has an interior storage space for shelves or drawers. A work surface is provided on the top wall of the pedestal and may extend wider than the pedestal and be supported at an opposite end by a vertical support. A work wall assembly may positioned on the wardrobe inner side wall above the work surface. Alternately, a storage cabinet or bookcase is mounted on the pedestal top wall. The modular work system thus has a small and compact footprint in view of the features contained in that space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a work system and more particularly toa modular work system with a narrow wardrobe to create a compact yetstable work system having all of the basic work or office features.

2. Description of the Related Art

Where work space is at a premium it is desirable to provide a completelyfeatured work space with the usual amenities. However, this is difficultwith typical office equipment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is described here is a modular work system that has a smallfootprint, is stable, very versatile and yet provides features typicallyconsidered essential for a complete work environment.

A complete understanding of the present invention and other objects,advantages and features thereof will be gained from a consideration ofthe present specification which provides a written description of theinvention, and of the manner and process of making and using theinvention, set forth in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as toenable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with whichit is most nearly connected, to make and use the same in compliance withTitle 35 U.S.C. section 112, first paragraph. Furthermore, the followingdescription of preferred embodiments of the invention read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing provided herein representsexamples of the invention in compliance with Title U.S.C. section 112,first paragraph, but the invention itself is defined in the Claimssection to be attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a wardrobe and pedestal combination.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a variation of a wardrobe and pedestalcombination.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another variation of a wardrobe andpedestal combination.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of yet another variation of a wardrobe andpedestal combination.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of still another variation of a wardrobe andpedestal combination.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of another variation o wardrobe and pedestalcombination.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a wardrobe and pedestal combination and adesk.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a wardrobe, pedestal and storage cabinetcombination.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a variation of a wardrobe, pedestal andstorage cabinet combination.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of another variation of wardrobe, pedestaland storage cabinet combination.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of yet another variation of a wardrobe,pedestal and storage cabinet combination.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of still another variation of a wardrobe,pedestal and storage cabinet combination.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a further variation of a wardrobe,pedestal and storage cabinet combination.

FIG. 15 an enlarged isometric view of a mirror image of the combinationshown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a wardrobe, pedestal and bookcasecombination.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a variation of a wardrobe, pedestal andbookcase combination.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of another variation of a wardrobe,pedestal and bookcase combination.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged isometric view of the wardrobe, pedestal andbookcase combination shown in FIG. 18 but with a raised lower shelf

FIG. 20 is an enlarged isometric view of a mirror image of thecombination shown in FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is open to various modifications andalternative constructions, the preferred embodiments illustrating-thebest mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their inventionare shown in the various figures of the drawing and will be described indetail, pursuant to Title 35 U.S.C. section 112, first paragraph. It isunderstood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventionto the particular embodiments, forms, or examples which are disclosedherein. To the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,equivalent structures and methods, and alternative constructions fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in theappended Claims section to be attached hereto, pursuant to Title 35U.S.C. section 112, second paragraph.

Several modular work systems 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 are shown in FIGS.1-7. In each embodiment there is a narrow tower or wardrobe 22, 24, 26,28, 30, 32 and each wardrobe includes a front door 34, 36, 38, 40, 42,44, a top wall or cap 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, an outer wall, such as theouter wall 58, FIG. 7 of the system 20, a rear wall, such as the rearwall 60 of the system 20 and an inner side wall, such as the inner sidewall 62 of the system 20. There are three variations of door pullsillustrated, a handle or “A” pull 64 in FIGS. 1 and 2, a short recess or“N” pull 66 in FIGS. 3 and 4 and a long recess or “R” pull 68 in FIGS. 5and 6.

Attached to each of the wardrobes is a pedestal 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80.Each pedestal includes a plurality of drawers 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92,two or three drawers are shown, an inside side wall or frame members(not shown) that abut the wardrobe, a top wall or cap 94, 96, 98, 100,102, 104, a rear wall or coven 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116 and anoutside side wall 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128. Fasteners (not shown),such as screws, may be used to attach each pedestal to a correspondingwardrobe. A work-surface or spacer 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 ismounted to each of the top walls of the pedestals.

Each pedestal includes drawer pulls to match the door pulls of thewardrobes as is shown. It is to be noted that a storage pedestal may beused instead of the pedestals containing drawers. A storage pedestal hasessentially the same outer shape as the drawer pedestal but has a doorleading to an interior with a shelf or shelves.

The wardrobes may be made of sheet metal and have a width of about nineinches, a depth of about twenty four inches and a height of about sixtyfour inches. The pedestals may also be formed of sheet metal and have awidth of about fifteen inches, a depth of about twenty four inches and aheight of about twenty six and three quarters inches. It may now beappreciated that the footprint of the wardrobe/pedestal combination hasa frontal dimension of about twenty four inches and a depth dimension ofabout twenty four inches. This is a favorably small and compactfootprint in view of the features contained in that space, namely awardrobe structure, a document storage structure and a work space.

A work wall assembly 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160 may be attached toeach inner side wall of the wardrobes. As show most clearly in FIG. 7,two steel strips 162, 164 are affixed to the wardrobe inner side wall 62such as by welding, a pair of aluminum extrusions 166, 168 are fastenedto the strips and a finishing panel 170 is slid into place to dress theassembly from an aesthetic standpoint. The extrusions may be fastened byscrews, such the screws 172, 174. The extrusions include a series ofaligned bracket receiving slots to enable attachment of a variety ofwork related accessories, such as a vertically disposed wall cover 176.Additional accessories are shown in FIG. 8 as will be explained below.The extrusions also include elongated recesses 178, 180 for receivingand holding the finishing panel 170. The wall cover may be a tack boardabout one inch in depth, twenty four inches in width and about thirtysix inches high.

The work surfaces or spacers 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 may eachinclude a wire opening 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, and be about oneand a half inches high. The total height of the pedestal and worksurface or spacer may be about twenty eight and a quarter inches.

By attaching a pedestal to a wardrobe, the combination becomes far morestable than the narrow wardrobe structure would be standing alone.Nevertheless, the combination is still quite compact with a smallfootprint. By attaching vertical panels and wall covers to the wardrobeside walls, complete work systems are provided that have all of thebasic work or office features typically provided. The systems arecompact, stable and also aesthetically appealing and may be used withother office type furniture or with other modules as will be explainedbelow.

Another embodiment or variation modular work system 200 is shown in FIG.8 and includes a wardrobe 202, and a connected pedestal 204. The systemalso includes an extended work surface or desk 206 and a desk support208. The desk is mounted at one end portion 210 to a spacer 212 atop thepedestal and at an opposite end portion 214 to the desk support. The topsurface 216 of the desk may be about twenty seven and a half incheshigh, about sixty two inches long and twenty four inches deep. The desksupport may be a column or legs and the shape of the desk may be roundedat the opposite end portion or straight as shown. The module work systemillustrated in FIG. 8 is a complete work station having all of thefeatures of a work space, including a reasonably large desk and yet thesystem is still very compact. Even with a wardrobe there is still areasonable amount of desk space for many work functions and yet thewardrobe/pedestal footprint is quite small, twenty four by twenty fourinches.

A work wall assembly is also attached to the inner side wall of thewardrobe. Using the slots of the extrusions a shelf 220 is mounted nearthe top of the wardrobe, a tack board 222 is mounted below the shelf anda paper management tray 224 is mounted below the tack board. It is tounderstood that other accessories may be mounted instead of thosementioned as a function of the needs of the worker at the desk and/or ofthe type of work being done.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-14, there is shown six additional variationsystems 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240 each including a wardrobe 242, 244,246, 248, 250, 252, and a pedestal 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264. Alsoincluded is a storage cabinet 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276 connected toboth the pedestal and to the wardrobe by fasteners (not shown). Eachstorage cabinet is as wide as the pedestal on which it is mounted and astall as the difference between the wardrobe and the pedestal to whichthe storage cabinet is attached. The storage cabinets are as deep as thepedestals and wardrobes and have the same type of pulls as thecorresponding pedestals and wardrobes.

Shown in FIG. 15 is an enlarged mirror image variation 280 of thewardrobe, pedestal and storage cabinet variation 238 shown in FIG. 13.Providing mirror image systems adds to the versatility of the modulesand yet does not deviate from the twenty four by twenty four inchfootprint mentioned above.

Referring now to FIGS. 16-18 there is illustrated three variations 282,284, 286 of the basic wardrobe and pedestal combination. Instead of astorage cabinet, however, there is shown a bookcase 288, 290, 292mounted to each of the pedestals. The bookcase opens laterally and thecombination wardrobe, pedestal and bookcase is useful alongside a deskor a return, for example. Each bookcase includes two side walls 294,296, 298; 300, 302, 304, a top wall 306, 308, 310, a bottom wall 312,314, 316, a rear wall 318, 320, 322 and three shelves 324, 326, 328,330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340. Fasteners, such as screws 342, 344 may beused to attach the bookcase to the pedestal and additional screws 346,348 may be used to attach the bookcase to the wardrobe also. On theinside of the side walls are two pair of slotted standards, such as thestandards 350, 352, 3540, 356, 358, 360 to enable vertical adjustment ofthe shelves.

The outer dimensions of the bookcases match that of the storage cabinetsso as to present the same frontal and depth dimensions as mentioned andthe same wardrobe and pedestal combination footprint. The side walls areabout fifteen inches wide, the opening is about twenty four inches wideand the height of the bookcase is about thirty seven and a half inches.It is noted that there is no need for the spacers on top of thepedestals because the lower shelf of the bookcases may be adjusted toalign those shelves with adjacent work surfaces, for example. Thisversatility is needed because different manufacturers construct desksand other work surfaces with different heights.

The FIGS. 19 and 20 variations are wardrobe, pedestal and bookcasesystem modules 370, 372. The FIG. 19 variation is like the variation 292shown in FIG. 18 but with a lower shelf 374 that is in a somewhat moreraised position. The FIG. 20 variation is a mirror image combinationwardrobe, pedestal and bookcase like that shown in FIG. 19.

The above specification describes in detail several preferredembodiments of the present invention. Other examples, embodiments,modifications and variations will, under both the literal claim languageand the doctrine of equivalents, come within the scope of the inventiondefined by the appended claims. For example, mixing and matching storagemodules or bookcases as have been shown are considered equivalent andwill come within the literal language of the claims as will the use of awardrobe/pedestal combination with desks or work surfaces of differentshapes and sizes and different supports. Still other alternatives willalso be equivalent as will many new technologies. There is no desire orintention here to limit in any way the application of the doctrine ofequivalents nor to limit or restrict the scope of the invention.

1. A modular work system comprising: a first storage module having aninterior storage space, an inside side wall, a top wall and an outsideside wall; a work surface mounted to the first storage module top wallat a work surface height; and a second storage module having an insideside wall, a top wall and an outside side wall, wherein the secondstorage module inside side wall abuts the first storage module insideside wall and wherein a height of the second storage module top wall isgreater than the work surface height.
 2. The modular work system ofclaim 1, further comprising a work wall assembly attached to the secondstorage module inside side wall above the work surface.
 3. The modularwork system of claim 1, wherein the interior storage space comprises adrawer.
 4. The modular work system of claim 1, wherein the interiorstorage space comprises a shelf.
 5. A modular work system comprising: adesk module, the desk module having a work surface at a desired height,the work surface having a front side, a rear side, and two lateralsides, wherein the desk module has a vertical support at least one ofthe two lateral sides; and a wardrobe module adjacent to the desk moduleand abutting the other of the two desk module lateral sides.
 6. Themodular work system of claim 5, wherein the desk module is supported bya pedestal defining an interior storage space at the other of the twodesk module lateral sides.
 7. The modular work system of claim 6,wherein the interior storage space comprises a drawer.
 8. The modularwork system of claim 6, wherein the interior storage space comprises ashelf.
 9. The modular work system of claim 5, wherein the wardrobe has awardrobe height that is greater than the work surface height, andfurther comprising a work wall assembly on an inner side surface of thewardrobe above the work surface.
 10. A modular work system comprising: afirst storage module having an interior storage space, an inside sidewall, a top wall and an outside side wall; a second storage modulehaving an inside side wall, a top wall and an outside side wall, whereinthe second storage module inside side wall abuts the first storagemodule inside side wall and wherein a height of the second storagemodule top wall is greater than the work surface height; and a thirdstorage module mounted to the first storage module top wall and having aheight about the same as the wardrobe.
 11. The modular work system ofclaim 10, wherein the interior storage space comprises one of a shelf ora drawer.
 12. The modular work system of claim 10, wherein the secondstorage module is a wardrobe.
 13. The modular work system of claim 10,wherein the third storage module is one of a storage cabinet or abookcase.
 14. The modular work system of claim 10, wherein a width ofthe third storage module is about the same as a width of the firststorage module.
 15. The modular work system of claim 10, wherein a depthof the first storage module, a depth of the second storage module and adepth of the third storage module are about the same.